U.S. patent number 5,009,638 [Application Number 07/486,418] was granted by the patent office on 1991-04-23 for breast pump.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Ameda AG. Invention is credited to Robert Riedweg, Klaus Schlensog.
United States Patent |
5,009,638 |
Riedweg , et al. |
April 23, 1991 |
Breast pump
Abstract
The breast pump comprises a milk reservoir and a flanged closure
member for connection with the reservoir; the closure member
comprises a suction bell and a suction pump suitable for
single-handed manual operation and includes (a) a cylinder
integrally connected with the closure member; (b) a piston for
reciprocating motion within the cylinder between a first or lower
position and a second or upper position, and (c) a spring-loaded
actuator for insteraction with the piston.
Inventors: |
Riedweg; Robert (Eich,
CH), Schlensog; Klaus (Hunenberg, CH) |
Assignee: |
Ameda AG (CH)
|
Family
ID: |
4194348 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/486,418 |
Filed: |
February 28, 1990 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S.
Class: |
604/74;
604/346 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M
1/06 (20130101); F04B 9/14 (20130101); A61M
1/81 (20210501); A61M 2205/073 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F04B
9/14 (20060101); F04B 9/00 (20060101); A61M
1/06 (20060101); A61M 1/00 (20060101); A61M
001/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;604/74-76,346
;119/14.47-14.53 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pellegrino; Stephen C.
Assistant Examiner: Rafa; Michael
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wigman & Cohen
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A breast pump comprising a milk reservoir and a closure member
for connection with said reservoir; said closure member comprising
a suction bell and a suction pump suitable for single-handed manual
operation and including: (a) a cylinder integrally connected with
said closure member; (b) a piston means for reciprocating motion
within said cylinder between a first or lower position and a second
or upper position, and (c) a spring-loaded actuator for interaction
with said piston means; wherein said actuator is formed by a yoke
means comprising an elongated spring member having a first or
normal position and being reversibly deformable into a second or
elastically bent position, said spring member having two ends and
being connected with said piston means substantially intermediate
between said two ends, and said yoke further comprising a pair of
elongated lateral legs each having a lower end and an upper end,
each of said lower ends being connected with an anchoring member on
said closure member, each of said upper ends of said elongated
lateral legs being connected with said spring member near one of
said two ends thereof, said yoke means being dimensioned for
single-handed manual compression of said lateral legs and for
elastically deforming said spring member by said compression so as
to upwardly displace said piston means within said cylinder upon
said manual compression and permitting said spring member to revert
into its first or normal position when said lateral legs are
released from said manual compression for returning said piston
means into said first or lower position.
2. The breast pump of claim 1 wherein said yoke means has an
essentially symmetrical structure and wherein said lower ends of
said lateral legs are hingedly connected with said anchoring member
while said upper ends of said lateral legs are hingedly connected
with said ends of said spring member.
3. The breast pump of claim 2 wherein said lateral legs as well as
said elongated spring members are made of a synthetic plastic
material capable of being sterilized by heat and wherein said legs
have a higher bending resistance than said spring member.
4. The breast pump of claim 1 wherein said anchoring member is an
open ring member for snap-on connection with an essentially
peripheral guide recess provided on said closure member to permit
limited rotational displacement of said yoke around an axis
(A.sup.2) of rotation commonly defined by said cylinder and said
peripheral guide recess.
5. The breast pump of claim 4 wherein said open ring member is
provided with arresting means for temporarily maintaining said yoke
means in an operational position of said displacement.
6. The breast pump of claim 1 wherein said closure member has a
circular flange for engagement with said reservoir to commonly
define a first axis (A.sup.1) of rotation, and wherein said
cylinder of said pump and said circular groove commonly define a
second axis (A.sup.2) of rotation, said first and said second axis
of rotation being offset relative to each other by an angle
(.alpha.) of between about 10.degree. and about 20.degree., and
wherein said suction bell defines a third axis (A.sup.3) of
rotation arranged at an angle (.beta.) of about 90.degree. relative
to said second axis of rotation.
7. The breast pump of claim 1 wherein said piston means is hingedly
connected with said elongated spring member.
8. The breast pump of claims 2 or 6 wherein said hinged connections
are snap-on connections for ease of assembly and disassembly of
said closure member.
9. The breast pump of claim 6 wherein substantially all components
of said closure member are made of a transparent or translucent
material to facilitate control of operation and maintenance of said
pump.
10. A breast pump comprising a milk reservoir and a closure member
for connection with said reservoir; said closure member comprising
a suction bell and a suction pump suitable for single-handed
operation and including: (a) a cylinder integrally connected with
said closure member; and (b) a bellows located within said cylinder
and provided with a flexible conduit for connection with an
external source of oscillating subatmospheric pressure wherein the
pump is operated mechanically by said external source.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to breast pumps and specifically to
manually operable breast pumps of the type having a suction pump
and being suitable for actuation with one hand only.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Breast pumps for manual operation of the type disclosed, for
example, in Applicants' U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,969 (EP 116,186) will
normally be held in one hand, generally around the suction bell and
near the breast while the other hand actuates motion of that pump
component that causes suction.
Various improvements of such pumps have been introduced since, e.g.
use of a small battery-operated motor as disclosed in Applicants'
U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,388, or soft inserts into the suction bell as
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,922.
Many prior art manual breast pumps of the general type disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 3,822,703 can be operated "single-handed" in the
sense that the breast pump is held and operated with one hand only
and this may be advantageous because the mother will then be able
to stimulate or press the breast so as to improve lactation and
completeness of the milk discharge. Single-handed breast pumps have
suffered from one or more disadvantages including poor visual
control of operation (including actual milk discharge and lactation
of the breast) and maintenance (i.e. cleaning or control of
cleaning effectiveness). For example, a single-handed breast pump
suggested more recently (e.g. in published British Pat. Application
No. 2,166,353-A), while avoiding some disadvantages of previous
single-handed breast pumps by replacing the conventional rubber
ball with a pump arrangement, fails to provide a satisfactory
solution. This prior art pump comprises a milk reservoir and a
closure member for connection therewith; the closure member
comprises a suction bell and a suction pump which, in turn,
includes a cylinder integrally connected with the closure member, a
piston for reciprocating motion within the cylinder and an actuator
formed of a handle and a steel spring that is loaded (i.e.
accumulates energy) when the handle is pressed downwards causing
suction by lifting the piston within the cylinder; upon release of
the handle the steel spring causes the handle to revert into its
rest position and brings the piston back into its lowermost
position within the cylinder. However, the use of metal components
is not favored for breast pumps and the structure of the prior art
actuator precludes sufficient visual control. Further, pumping by
means of the handle involves an essentially asymmetrical motion
which may cause the suction bell to be displaced more than is felt
by the mother to be comfortable because of undesired axial nipple
displacement or other irritation.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the invention to provide for
a novel manually operable breast pump of the single-handed type
which provides for an improved and more symmetric actuation of the
suction pump, requires no metallic components, and provides for
better visual control of milk discharge from the nipple.
Further objects will become apparent as the specification
proceeds.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Now, in order to implement these objects the invention provides for
a breast pump of the type defined above, i.e. comprising a milk
reservoir and a flanged closure member for connection therewith;
said closure member comprising a suction bell and a suction pump
suitable for single-handed manual operation and including: (a) a
cylinder integrally connected with said closure member, (b) a
piston means for reciprocating motion within said cylinder between
a first or lower position and a second or upper position, and (c) a
spring-loaded actuator for interaction with said piston means
According to the present invention the actuator is formed by a yoke
means or structure comprising an elongated spring member having a
first or normal position and being reversibly deformable into a
second or elastically bent position; when in this position, a front
view of the yoke means will generally show a "mushroomtype" shape
formed by the upper arc of the bent spring and with sides formed by
a pair of lateral legs as explained in more detail below; the
elongated spring member has two ends (in longitudinal direction)
and is connected with the piston means near the longitudinal center
of the spring member; the yoke structure further comprises a pair
of elongated lateral legs each having a lower end and an upper end;
each of the lower leg ends is connected with an anchoring member
provided directly or via a preferred intermediate member on said
closure member; each of the upper ends of the elongated lateral
legs is connected with the spring member at one of the longitudinal
ends thereof, and the yoke means or structure is generally
dimensioned for single-handed manual compression (i.e. pressing
together) of the lateral legs and for elastically deforming the
spring member thereby so that the piston means is displaced upwards
within the cylinder and permits the spring member to revert into
its first or normal position when the lateral legs are released;
consequently, the piston means will return into its first or lower
position and a subsequent pumping cycle by pressing together (i.e.
towards the axis of the cylinder) the lateral legs can be
started.
DISCUSSION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
For many embodiments of the invention it will be preferred that the
yoke structure has a generally symmetrical configuration and that
the main constituents thereof, i.e. the lateral legs and the
elongated spring, will be interconnected with each other and with
their operationally adjacent constituents of the pump in a
generally movable and preferably pivotable or hinged manner; it is
even more preferred if the connection of the yoke structure with
the closure member, on the one hand, and the piston, on the other
hand, is effected by "snap-on" hinges, e.g. where the male part of
the hinges and the female parts thereof may be disconnected and
reconnected because of some elastic deformation of the hinge
members.
It is generally preferred that the lateral legs as well as the
elongated spring member are made of a synthetic plastic material
capable of being sterilized by heat. Typical examples include such
materials as polyacetals, polycarbonate and polypropylene. The legs
should have a significantly higher bending resistance than said
spring member.
According to another preferred embodiment the anchoring member is
an open-ended (e.g. a circular or annular structure preferably made
of a plastic material of the type mentioned, with a segment of the
circle or annulus cut away) ring for snap-on connection with a
substantially peripheral guide recess extending around a major
portion of the outer surface of the closure member or "groove"
provided on the flanged closure member to permit limited rotational
displacement of the yoke structure around an axis of rotation
commonly defined by the cylinder of the pump and the peripheral
recess. This permits that the mother using the pump may select
exactly that position of the yoke structure which will be most
comfortable to her as determined inter alia by the size and
strength of her hand and the preferred position she would take when
feeding her baby.
Preferably, the open ring member is provided with arresting means,
e.g. indentations of the open-ended ring cooperating with a
protrusion of the guide recess or groove in the closure member for
temporarily maintaining the yoke structure in an operational
position of displacement as selected by the mother.
Generally, the closure member will have a circular flange provided
with a thread or bayonet-type connection for engagement with a
corresponding thread or bayonet-type connector provided at the
opening of the milk reservoir; the circular flange (generally with
the attached reservoir) defines a first axis of rotation; the
cylinder of the pump and the said circular groove commonly define a
second axis of rotation, said first and said second axis of
rotation being offset relative to each other by an angle of between
about 10.degree. and about 20.degree., and wherein the suction bell
defines a third axis of rotation arranged at an angle of about
90.degree. relative to the second axis of rotation. This particular
arrangement has been found to provide optimum visual control of the
nipple area and milk discharge combined with a most comfortable
general shape and structure of the breast pump when used by a
mother in any body position which would be preferred when holding
and breast-feeding a baby.
As will be apparent from the drawings, the term "suction bell" as
used herein is intended to generally refer to prior art structures,
preferably to the structure disclosed and defined in some detail in
the above mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,969 to Applicants which
bells are believed to have become an industrial standard in the art
of breast pumps. Accordingly, the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No.
4,573,969 with regard to suction bells as well as the shapes and
dimensions thereof, inserts or adapters for breasts of different
sizes, as well as suitable polymers for producing the suction bell
or other components of the closure member is incorporated herein by
way of reference.
As briefly mentioned above, it is preferred that the piston of the
suction pump is connected with the spring member in a manner that
provides for ease of assembly and disassembly and/or can serve to
limit maximum suction, i.e. will disconnect when the suction
generated by means of the suction pump within the suction bell
(closed at the normally open front by the mother's breast) exceeds
a predetermined maximum, e.g. a pressure differential between the
ambient pressure and that within the suction bell of about -400
millibars (i.e. the absolute pressure within the suction bell upon
maximum suction will be 1000-400 millibars). Generally, such
differential will be in the range of from about 1 to about 300
mb.
Generally, it is preferred that substantially all components of the
closure member are made of a transparent or translucent material to
facilitate control of operation and maintenance of said pump. This
is less critical, of course, for seal rings, connectors and even
the spring and the lateral legs but is believed to be rather
crucial for the pump, the suction bell and the interconnecting
portions of the closure member.
According to a further embodiment of the invention the breast pump
is additionally provided with a "bellows", i.e. an essentially
cylindrical hollow and flexible structure made of a heat-resistant
elastomer, such as silicone rubber, that will fit into the bore of
the cylinder when the piston has been removed. The bellows is
connected with a flexible tube for connection with an external
source of an oscillating negative pressure such as normally
produced by hospital-sized electrical breast pumps which can be
rented in many towns. In other words, the flanged closure means of
a breast pump according to the invention can be easily transformed
into a "personalized" component of a rented pump because any
contamination of the milk from the rented pump can be safely
precluded by the bellows. When in this mode the breast pump is not
manually operated but still provides improved visual control and
comfortable body position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood and objects other than
those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is
given to the following detailed description thereof. Such
description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein
throughout the various Figures there have been generally used the
same reference characters, or end digits, to denote the same or
analoguous components and wherein:
FIG. 1A is a diagrammatical presentation of a first embodiment of
the present breast pump when viewed from the side opposite the
suction bell and with the yoke structure both at rest as in
extended position (shown in broken lines) to show the preferred
symmetrical structure of the actuator according to the
invention;
FIG. 1B is a top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of components of the yoke structure
where one of the lateral legs has been omitted for simplicity;
FIG. 3 is a semi-diagrammatical sectional side view of a second
embodiment of the breast pump according to the invention with the
lateral leg members omitted for clarity; and
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of components of the yoke structure
where the lateral legs (one omitted for simplicity) are hingedly
connected at their lower ends with a slidable open ended ring.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Describing now the drawings, it is to be understood that the
illustration is given by way of example and not limitation and that
only enough of the construction of the breast pump has been shown
as needed for those skilled in the art to readily understand the
underlying principles and concepts of the present invention while
simplifying the showing of the drawings.
Turning attention now to FIGS. 1A and 1B of the drawing, a first
embodiment of the symmetrically designed yoke structure of a
single-handed breast pump 1 according to the invention is shown in
a schematic presentation as viewed from the side of the breast pump
1 that is opposed to the suction bell, the latter not being
indicated in FIG. 1A but for clarity.
Closure member 11 typically made of a transparent and thermostable
(i.e. capable of being sterilized by hot air or water at
temperatures of up to 120.degree. C.) polymer such as a
polycarbonate, is releasably connected in a manner known per se
with a suitable milk reservoir 15 as disclosed in the art cited
above and shown in part only and in broken lines. Suction bell 12
is shown diagrammatically in the top view of FIG. 1B and includes,
in a manner known per se, a flanged outer portion 121 and a
frustro-conical transition 122 to receive the nipple of the
mother's breast and to permit passage of the milk into and through
closure member 11. Suction bell 12 as well as cylinder 13 of the
suction pump 14 will generally be made as an integral, i.e.
monolithical structure of the type produced by injection molding or
other conventional polymer molding methods. In line with this
consideration, closure member 11, suction bell 12 and cylinder 13
will in general be made of the same polymer material.
A bore or other conduit 123 is provided in closure member 11 for
passage of milk from suction bell 12 into a chamber 150 having a
lower bottom 151 provided with one or more apertures 152 and a
valve means 163 that permits passage of milk into reservoir 15 but
limits the volume within which a reduced pressure must be produced
intermittently. Such valves and many modifications thereof, again,
are conventional in breast pumps and will not be further discussed
herein.
Suction pump 14 consists essentially of the cylinder 13 just
mentioned and a piston 19, generally with an annular seal (not
shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B). Piston 19 is arranged for reciprocating
motion (indicated by a double arrow in fig 1A) between an upper and
a lower position The upper end of piston 19 is connected,
preferably in a releasable manner, such as by a snap-on hinge, with
an elongated and generally flat spring member 18 having two ends
181, 182. A connection, hinge 30 or joint 183 between spring 18 and
piston 19 is provided substantially at the (longitudinal) center of
spring 18 while spring ends 181, 182 are hingedly (i.e. by a hinge
or similar pivotable joint) connected with the two elongated
lateral legs 16, 17. These lateral legs, in turn, are releasably
connected at their lower ends 161, 171, again preferably in a
hinged manner (not shown) with an anchoring member, e.g. a recess
111, of closure 11.
The characteristic design (also termed "symmetric" herein) of the
actuator 10 (formed essentially by the two lateral legs 16, 17 and
the elongated spring 18) will be apparent when considering
actuation of pump 14 by displacement of piston 19 in the directions
of the double arrow: upon compression between the thumb and the
fingers of a user's hand legs 16, 17 will be pressed towards each
other (and the longitudinal axis of piston 13) into a position
shown in broken lines and designated as 16a, 17a. Consequently,
spring 18 will be bent elastically and be displaced into the
position indicated as 18a and piston 19 will be moved into its
uppermost position 19a.
As a result, suction will be generated by pump 14 and if suction
bell 12 is closed by a mother's breast, such suction will cause a
discharge of milk into reservoir 15. When the compression of
lateral legs 16, 17 is terminated by release thereof or by reduced
finger pressure, spring 18 will tend to return from its bent
position 18a into its normal or rest position shown in FIG. 1A. As
will be apparent from this discussion, the entire operating cycle
between a first compression of legs 16, 17 and a subsequent
compression after intermediate release, is essentially "symmetric"
from a kinetic point of view of the operation of actuator 10, i.e.
relative to any motion that would cause displacement of suction
bell 12 relative to the breast. When comparing such symmetric
actuation according to the invention, the advantages over prior art
single-handed pumps of the type having a laterally protruding lever
will become apparent.
From the operation of actuator 10 just explained, it will be
apparent that the main area of bending deformation should be
restricted to spring 18. In other words, the "bending resistance"
of legs 16, 17 should be significantly higher than the bending
resistance of spring 18. Such bending resistance of legs 16, 17 can
be achieved by means of shape, dimension and materials in a manner
known per se. A preferred shape of legs 16, 17 is illustrated in
FIG. 1A with inwardly bent upper portions of the lateral legs but
this is not believed to be generally critical. The "mushroom"-type
shape of actuator 10, both at rest and in compressed state, is,
however, preferred because of ergonomic considerations.
FIG. 2 illustrates, in a semi-diagrammatic exploded and perspective
view, an embodiment of the interconnection between the actuator and
the pump according to the invention. Only one lateral leg 26 is
shown in FIG. 2 for simplicity (the other leg being shaped in the
same manner). The lower end 261 of leg 26 is provided with the
"male" portion 263 of a hinge of which the other part, e.g. a
recess in an anchoring portion of the closure member, is not shown.
It should be noted, however, that the term "anchoring member" as
used herein is intended to include both a simple recess or similar
fixing member in the closure member as well as a separate
constituent that is moveably connected with the lower ends of the
lateral legs and is, in turn, moveably connected with the closure
member as will be illustrated hereinbelow. First, however, FIG. 2
illustrates a hinged connection between the upper end 264 of leg 26
and one end 281 of spring 28. Both ends 264 and 281 can be
interconnected by means of a splint, bolt, rod or the like means
(not shown) which may be separate or integral components of the
resulting hinges. A protruding and profiled portion 283 is provided
near the longitudinal center of spring 28 between its ends 281, 282
to interfit with a correspondingly shaped portion 293 at the upper
end of piston 29. A "T"-shaped profile is shown merely for
illustration and any other types of interfitting connectors may be
used. Piston 29 might be a closed, i.e. cylindrical or tubular,
structure or be formed as a cross-type profile 291 with a circular
lower disc end 292 suitable to receive and hold a conventional
sealing ring 299, e.g. having an internal groove 298 for snap-on
connection with disc end 292.
FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of pump 3
in which the suction bell 32, pump 34 and spring 38 are
substantially as explained in connection with FIGS. 1A and 1B
(lateral legs not illustrated for clarity) but where a preferred
general shape of the pump as well as a preferred type of anchoring
member of the actuator 30 are shown. To this end, closure member 31
is provided with a flanged end 315 for connection with a milk
reservoir (not shown) and an angular tube segment 314 which, in
turn, offsets axis A.sup.1 (an axis of rotation defined by flange
315 and the milk reservoir) relative to the rotational axis A.sup.2
of pump 34 or its cylinder 33, respectively, by an angle .alpha. of
between about 10.degree. and about 20.degree.. Because the
rotational axis A.sup.3 of suction bell 32 is at an angle .beta. of
about 90.degree. relative to axis A.sup.2, the nipple-surrounding
portion 322 of suction bell 32 will be perfectly visible to the
mother so that she can watch and control the milk discharge. It is
believed that such visual contact is most favorable for the
lactation process.
FIG. 3 further illustrates a preferred anchoring means for the
lateral legs by means of an open-ended ring 311 that is slidingly
mounted in a peripheral recess 312 of closure 32 as explained more
fully in FIG. 4. It will be noted that the illustration of FIG. 3
further shows preferred structures for the members 33, 39 of pump
34, the arrangement of chamber 350 and the valve means 35, and a
preferred connection between piston 39 and spring 38.
FIG. 4 corresponds, in essence, with FIG. 2 except that the lower
ends of the lateral legs (only end 461 of leg 46 shown) will be
inserted into snap-on brackets as represented diagrammatically by
414. A pair of such brackets or other connectors 414, 414a is
integrally connected with ring 311 explained above having two ends
415, 416. Such ring will preferably be made of a flexible polymer
composition of the type explained above and can be snapped on or
snapped off the peripheral recess 312 shown in FIG. 3. Arrestor
means, e.g. grooves 419, can be provided at the inside of ring 311
to cooperate with one or more corresponding protrusions of
peripheral recess 312. As a result, a desired position of the
actuator as indicated partially in FIG. 4 relative to the axis
A.sup.2 will be held after it has been selected by the user for
optimum comfort. It will be apparent that the actuator could be
removed from closure member 31 together with the ring 311 as soon
as the snap-on connection between spring 38 and piston 39 is
released.
The advantages of the present invention, as well as certain changes
and modifications of the disclosed embodiments thereof, will be
readily apparent to those skilled in the art. It is Applicants'
intention to cover by their claims all those changes and
modifications which could be made to the embodiments of the
invention herein chosen for the purpose of the disclosure without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Protection by Letters Patent of this invention in all its aspects
as the same are set forth in the appended claims is sought to the
broadest extent that prior art allows.
* * * * *